Lee Man battered as Kitchee go five unbeaten

                                                   Article by Adam O'Domhnaill

Team news

Photo by Ericson

Kitchee made six changes to the side that took on Lee Man in the Senior Shield semi final last weekend. Some were enforced by international absences, and others to ensure Kitchee met the quota of young players required for the competition. There was a debut in goal for fifteen year old Tuscany, with youngsters Yuen and Slattery, captain Huang Yang, Cheng Ching Lung and Fernando also coming in. Having emerged triumphant in the Senior Shield semi final last week, Kitchee had high hopes of a win in their first trip to Tseung Kwan O since losing 4-1 in September's league encounter.

Tuscany; Chen Ching Lung (Roberto 69), Helio, Russell, Fernando (Kurban 82); Huang Yang © , Cleiton, Yuen (Pang 82); Slattery (Yueng 57), Juninho (Jantscher 69)

Match highlights

Photo by Tony

Lee Man thought they’d taken the lead early on, but Paulinho was adjudged to be offside. Kitchee took the lead after twelve minutes; a low cross from Igor Sartori being tucked away from inside the six yard box by Juninho. Seventeen year old Yuen Chun Him went close with a volley that took a deflection and needed a good save. Gil sent a good cross into Paulinho, who hit the post, with Gil’s follow up going way over the bar. Juninho went close again before Fernando saw his long range freekick tipped over.

Photo by Richard

The second half began with a bang, as good work from Paulissen set up Gil for a lovely first time finish, denying Tuscany a clean sheet on debut. A run from Cleiton saw the Brazilian score with a low shot. Fernando then whipped in a delicious cross onto the head of Andy Russell, who sent Kitchee two goals clear. Jantscher was introduced with twenty minutes to go, and missed a sitter before taking the ball on the halfway line, running into space and sealing Kitchee’s 4-1 victory.

Fans feedback

Photo by Ericson

Kitchee seem to have recovered mentally and physically from the tough start to the season. While the last two games have been in cup competitions, it is good to see Kitchee banishing the demons of the disappointing league defeat to Lee Man. The Sapling Cup gives an opportunity for game time for squad players and youngsters, and from this match, Kitchee demonstrated their better strength in depth. However, in a tournament supposedly to get minutes in the legs of young players, we saw Kitchee start five players over the age of thirty five, and bring on forty year old Roberto.

Photo by Ericson

The Sapling Cup could be a much more enjoyable tournament if it was a knockout, or had smaller groups. This season there are fifty group games before the semi finals, and only two games so far have had more than five hundred fans in attendance. Surely a shorter competition, especially in a season interrupted by the Asian Cup in January, would make much more sense.

Juninho scored his third goal in three games against Lee Man while at Kitchee, and Russell and Cleiton also had good games. Tuscany Shek coming in and looking so composed at a young age bodes well for the future of Kitchee’s goalkeeping, as Paulo and Wang are not getting any younger.

What’s next

Kitchee’s next game is a league game on Friday 24th November, against Southern at 8pm at Mong Kok. We also have the opportunity to see our international players in action on Tuesday night, as Hong Kong take on Turkmenistan in the latest World Cup Qualifier.

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